Receptacle and closure therefor



June 19, 1945. v s. N. BUCHANAN 2,378,683

I RECEPTACLE AND CLOSURE THEREFOR I Filed May '7, 1945 2 SheetsSheet l June 19, 1945. s. N. BUCHANAN RECEPTACLE AND CLOSURE THEREFOR I Filed May "7, 1945 2 Sheets-Shee t 2 I dz epkerz flBZLCkQiLd m Patented June 19, 1945 PATEN Prior; v

fzmaess 'imnpmm mn CLOSURE-.THEREFQR 4 steiinenivgniihan n, WestmorelandHills, Md.

v Apfilication' Mai'l, 194s, s riarnnsrsemra The "present "invention in *itsbroadest aspects, is concerned withfa receptacle and a olo'sure therefor. More spee-ifically, however, the invention has especial relation toso-ca'lled terminal or iunc't'ion boxes" and toa readily attachable and detachable. closure therefor provided with means for 'securely'retaining the closure in'p'os'ition thereonagainst undesired removal.

The terminal boxes, for which the present invention is particularly but not exclusively adapted, are intended to houseso-oalled terminal b1ocks'f";i; -e.'h1ocks provided with means whereby Wire ends may beinterconnectem see, for example, the applicants copendingappIiow tion, SerialNo. 455,636, filed-August 21, 1942. Thesefboxes are usually openeended; the wires orwire conduits coming in'through-suitable open ingsinlthe hottom-or-s'ides thereof. I It has ihe'retoforeibeen customary 'tosecure the closures for the. open ends of'lthe boxes withfithe aid of. bolts extending throughsuitable perforated and/orrscrew-tl'lreaded lugs or :ears provided on the boxes and -:on the. covers. The box lugsr have,

in some Leases, been positioned son the routs'i'deo the boxes :but this arrangement isinot favored be consent the resultant iincrease inssize' of .the as- .theabox, :since each individual lretaining sbolt must be separately manipulated movediintoeoverretaining :position orgnpon removal -;of the never, out :of suchp'osi-tion' l It issmanifestfiwonn the'ifioregoingthat a" new: tionship of which does motlinvolve either external or'internal hugs the box' and/or cover, which tdnes: :notinvo'lve bolts which require, dividual:-. and .time oonsuming handling, but which "rather-(comprises a readily mountable and securely retainable eover aineans;

venti-on comprises, first, a box which may :be essentially unmod ified except for the provision or notches :on the 'wallsthereof, :of .a' 'dharacterrand for :a ipurpnsewhich wil1,. hereinafter more qclearly appear, and secondly, an essentially unmodified cover which .however "is zprovided with .spri'ngy snap-unfivelements jincliuding portions which .fit into and rare resiliently .releasably retained in :the aforesaid notches. 5' I YThe result Q'sthat the entire interior of the vhrox is freeno part :being taken up by bolt-receiving lugs 01'. the like; neither the cover :nor the box has :to be provided with external lug appendages; and the cover may-doe easily rapplied' to :the "box in essentially normahrmanner, retentionthereof in closure position being-assuredhymerelysnapping the aforesaid spring looking elements :into noteh-engagingposition; H

Further obi-acts and advantages ofithe invention will tbe apparentto those "skille'dy'in the art to which it-appertains, from rthe following detailed description of zpresentlyprefernedexemplary embodiments thereoi, reference being had in this regardl to the accompanying illustrative sheets of drawings, wherein:

.Figl is aa topqplain view of .the closure and spri-ngy -locking elements, as seen in mounted positionionone typeaof Joox;

,F g. 2 is a side elevation cor-responding to .Fig. -1, with vthe lowerportion of the box brokenaway; I Fig. 3 .is :an enlarged ,tragmentary sectional detail along line .3-,.3 of Fig. l, the dotted lines showing the locking element out of notch-engaging position; I

Figh is .a top plan view of a olosure with locking elements according to the present invention, as seen in box;' 1 v I Fig. 5. is a side elevation corresponding to Fig. 4, with the lower portion of the jboxibroken away, and with one locking element shownout of notchengaging position; I

Fig, 6 is a fragmentary side elevation corresponding essentially to Fig. '2 but showing a modified form of box and cover;

Fig. '7is a side elevation ofthe spring frame of a locking element accordingto this invention; nd

Fig.8 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale showing a detail of the invention.

Corresponding reference numerals v designate corresponding parts throughout the several figuresof the drawings. I

Referring first to Figs. 31-3 of the drawings; reference numeral 4 designates 'a'box "on which the closure or cover 5 is "to be mounted. The

mounted ,position on a second type of polygonal configuration of the box and cover, shown in Fig. 1, has no particular significance except as hereinafter indicated, since any other suitable and/or desirable box configuration may be employed within the purview of this invention. The box 4 may be a terminal box of the character hereinbefore described, but manifestly the invention is equally applicable to other types of boxes. I

The cover 5 may preferably be downwardly flanged at its edges, as shown in Fig. 3, to provide a peripheral flange 6 about the upper edges of the box. The relationship between box and cover, in assembled and locked position, is shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. If desired, flange 6 may be omitted.

The means for retaining the cover 5 on the box 4 preferably comprises a plurality of locking elements, of which three are shown in Fig. 1.

Each locking element may be made from a single length of suitable spring wire-for example, steel music wire No. 20'-bent into substantially U-configuration. At each free end thereof, the locking elements may be looped about a retaining rivet 1 or otherwise suitably affixed to the cover 5. The transverse run of the U may preferably be provided with a freely revoluble cam roller member 8, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. If desired, however, this roller may be omitted. Transverse spreading of the U isypre'vented by means of a metallic retainer strip or guide plate 9, positioned substantially centrally of the element, with the longitudinal edges of the strip looped about the adjacent wire portions, as shown at ID in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Referring more particularly to the locking element as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 (see also Fig. 7) it will be evident that the several parts of the locking element are not coplanar, but that a substantially right-angular bend at point ll, just beyond plate 9, divides the element into an essentially vertical portion and an essentially horizontal portion (as viewed in Fig. 3). See also the corresponding bend in Fig. 7, wherein angle y is about 90.

A further bend at point l2, intermediate of plate 9 and rivets 1, in a direction opposite to the bend at point I I, imparts to the locking element a springy tendency to move in the direction of arrow A (Fig. 3), so that the element normally assumes on cover 5 the position shown in dotted lines on Fig. 3. The angle a (see Fig. 7) may preferably be about 30.

In order to impart'to the roller end of the locking element a tendency to move toward the box.

this end is bent at point 13 toward the box 4 (as shown in Fig. 3). The angle a, in this case, may also conveniently be about 30; (see Fig. 7).

The result is that when cover 5 is on box 4 and the locking element is in cover-releasing position, the spring action at point [3 causes the roller 8 to ride on the adjacent wall of the box 4 at a point about or anteriorly of recess or notch I4 (see Fig. 3), the wall of the box being provided with a plurality of such recesses or notches l4, one for each locking element.

When the locking element is depressed, for example by pressing on plate 9, against the spring action tending to urge the element in the direction of arrow A, the roller 8 rides downwardly along the wall until it reaches the corresponding notch l4 whereupon the resilient tendency of the roller to move toward the box, due to bend I3, causes the roller 8 to move into and seat itself in the said notch l4, thereby locking the box and cover at this point. With all the locking elements in the aforedescribed depressed or looking position, the cover is securely, although readily releasably, mounted on the box. The arrangement is manifestly such that accidental removal of the cover is practically impossible.

Prevention of undesired removal of cover 5 is assured by making the notches M in such way that their center lines extend upwardly at an angle of 7 relative to the horizontal (see angle 2 in Fig. 8). It is therefore necessary to manually grasp the downwardly extending part of a looking element and force it out of engagement with its slot or recess |4which, due to the angular disposition thereof, may be termed a reentrant slotin order to release the locking element.

Quick release of the box may be readily effected by merely manually disengaging the several rollers 8 from their respective notches l4, whereupon each locking element will assume the position shown in dotted lines on Fig. 3, and the cover may be easily removed. As a matter of fact, with the arrangement shown in Figs. 1-3, 1. e. where the locking elements are at three corners of the polygonally-shapedbox, it is sufficient merely to disengage but one looking element to enable removal of the cover to be effected.

It is manifest that association of box and cover may also be quickly effected by merel assembling. the two and then depressing the locking elements until the several cam rollers engage in their respective notches.

If necessary, the cover 5 and/or wall of box 4 may be slotted as at I5 to allow ready positioning of the locking elements. As shown more particularly in Figs. 1-3 of the drawings, the parts are so related that no part extends beyond the outer periphery of the cover 5.

Figs. 4 and 5 show the invention as applied to a rectangular box 4' and cover 5' having a flange 6, locking elements being provided not only at the several corners but also substantially centrally of the long sides of the rectangle.

The parts and their relationship are essentially the same as in the previously-described embodi ment. A difference is found, however, in the provision of V-notches Hi to retain plates 9 in place.

A further embodiment is shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. According to this embodiment, the upper part of each wall of box [8 is offset as shown at I9 to provide a shoulder 20 which extends peripherally around the box. The undersurface of shoulder 20 is upwardly inclinedpreferably about 7 relative to the horizontal. With this form of construction, recesses M become superfluous, since cam rollers 8 of the looking elements may engage the said under-surface, preferably at the box corners. Cover I1, in this embodiment, is not, although it maybe, provided with a peripheral flange. In other respects, the device is like those hereinbefore described.

The device operates in essentially the same manner when cam rollers 8 are omitted.

It is preferred, although not essential, to make the box and cover out of synthetic resin, such as Bakelite or the like.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle, a closure therefor, and spring means secured to the top of said closure adjacent an edge thereof, said receptacle being provided sure and a terminal portion extending from said last-named portion toward said receptacle, said terminal portion being releasably engaged with said notch in said closure-locking position and disengaged from said notch in said closure-re,- leasing position. v

2. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle, a closure therefor, andspring tending between the legs of said U, and means for securing said plate in predetermined position on said spring means.

V 5. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle, a closure therefor, and spring locking means secured to the top of said closure adjacent an edge thereof for'releasably holding said closure on said receptacle against undesired disengagement, said receptacle being provided on the exterior thereof with an undercut shoulder in substantial alinement with said spring means, said spring means being movable from a closurelocking position to a closure-releasing position and vice versa, said spring means comprising a portion resiliently upstanding from said top in I the closure-releasing position and depressible substantial contact with said top in closure-locking position, said spring means further comprising a portion extending beyond the edge of said closure and a terminal portion extending from said last-named portion-toward said receptacle, said terminal portion being releasably engaged with said notch in said closure-locking position and disengaged from said notch in said closurereleasing position, and a pressure plate on said spring means whereby force may be applied thereto to effect depression of said depressible portion and engagement of saidterminal portion with said notch.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, said spring means being essentially U-shaped in form, and the said pressure plate extending between the legs of said U.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2, said spring means being essentially U-shaped in form, and the said pressure plate being connected to and exinto substantial contact with said top in closurelocking position, said spring means further comprising a portion extending beyond the edge of said closure and a terminal portion extending from said last-named portion toward ,said receptacle, said terminal portion being releasably engaged with said undercut shoulder in said closure-locking position and disengaged from said shoulder in said closure-releasing position.

6. A device of the character described comprising a receptacle, a closure therefor, depressible spring locking means mounted on the top of said closure and engageable with said receptacle for securing the closure thereto, and means for securing'said locking means to said closure; said locking means comprising an initial portion attached to said securing means, a first intermediate portion resiliently upstanding from said closure and being depressible into contact therewith, a second intermediate portion extending downwardly beyond the edge of said closure, and a terminal portion extending from said second portion toward said receptacle, said receptacle being provided with means defining a reentrant recess in alinement with said spring means for engaging and releasably retaining said terminal portion upon depression of said first intermediate portion into contact with said closure, whereby said closure is secured to said receptacle,

STEPHEN N. BUCHANAN. 

